Reign of Shadows - Deborah Chester [82]
He looked startled by her reply.
“There, you see?” Hecati said scornfully. “All rebellion and hopeless ideas. What is to be done with a creature like her?”
Albain ignored Hecati and gave Elandra his complete attention. “What else would you have for yourself?”
She spun away and crossed the room to the window overlooking the lush jungles beyond the walls. Hugging herself, she gazed at the sky. A pair of wild parrots flew overhead, their crimson feathers bright. “I don’t know exactly ... only I think I would like to be a scholar or a teacher. I would like to explore the world and see its wonders. I would like to put my own mark on history, not just content myself with running a household and bearing a man’s children.”
Albain laughed. “What a silly child you are.”
Elandra turned around sharply. “Am I?” she asked, hurt by his laughter. “Am I really foolish? Are my dreams wrong?”
He beckoned to her, still chuckling, and she crossed the room to him. He gave her shoulder a little pat, then pushed her away.
“You are ready indeed to go forth and forge a path for yourself,” he said. “The Penestricans can do much with you, I think. I am pleased.”
“Must I marry?” she asked again. “Could I join the order of Penestricans and find a different destiny for myself there?”
The amusement slowly faded in his face. He shook his head. “Some think a destiny is a curse. Others, like Bixia, consider it a blessing. Either way, you must walk the path it sets for you. Now, go and make yourself ready. There is little time.”
“I want to stay.”
“I know.” His voice was firm. “But you cannot. The Penestricans tell me it is time. Today I must lose both my girls.”
She heard the unhappiness in his voice. Her heart went out to him, and she reached for his hand. But with a scowl, he abruptly turned his back on her and left the room. She listened to the rapid jingling of his spurs and knew with a sinking heart that she would probably never see him again.
The jinja lingered a moment. Its dark, mischievous eyes stared up at Elandra in a strangely compelling manner. “Greatness,” it whispered. Then it grinned and vanished.
Elandra would have rushed out of the room then, but Hecati blocked her path.
She handed Elandra a small key off her ring. “This will unlock the cupboard that contains your things. See that you hurry. Wash your face and do something about that hair. You will behave yourself. You will conduct yourself properly. You will do nothing to bring shame to Lady Bixia, is that clear?”
Elandra felt numb. There had been too many shocks, too many emotions. She wanted only to flee, to be alone until she could understand some part of what had happened.
She did not take the key, but Hecati forced it into her hand.
“Destiny indeed.” Hecati sniffed. “You think you have won your father, but you haven’t. He’ll forget about you within ten minutes of our departure.”
“I know,” Elandra said softly.
“You got out of the punishment you deserve, but let me tell you this. Make no attempt to put on airs around Lady Bixia or me, my girl. We aren’t interested in your destiny. It is nothing in comparison to her ladyship’s. Nothing! For all we know, you’ll marry a scoundrel who’ll end up hanged from an imperial road arch.”
Flandra turned slowly to look at the spiteful old woman. For the first time in her life she felt no fear. She wasn’t sure if it was shock that made her reckless, or if the jinja had somehow changed her.
“Better to wed a bandit than a darkness-riddled old man who’s afraid to die,” she retorted in a quiet voice.
Hecati blanched; then fury filled her eyes. “You— you—”
The switch appeared, and Elandra lifted her hand quickly to block the blow. But it never landed.
The switch transformed itself into a thin black snake that writhed back toward Hecati. Shrieking, she flung it away.
The serpent struck the wall and vanished. The air smelled scorched and tainted.
Wrinkling her nose, Elandra stared at Hecati in amazement. The woman backed away from her with an expression of mingled fury and